Chandigarh, May 21 -- A cloud of grief and protest hangs over Kothe Chahal village in Punjab's Faridkot district, where the family of 22-year-old Agniveer Akashdeep Singh is refusing to perform his final rites - immersing his ashes - until he is officially recognized as a martyr.
Akashdeep, recruited under the Centre's Agnipath scheme, died last week after a bullet injury while on duty in Jammu and Kashmir. His mother, Karamjit Kaur, has made an emotional yet firm stand - she will not immerse her son's ashes until the Government of India honours his sacrifice with the title of martyr. Her protest has touched a raw nerve across Punjab, especially in districts that have historically contributed heavily to the Indian Armed Forces.
"He gave h...